Magnolia

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT MAGNOLIA

MAGNOLIA PARK — The Magnolia Park Post Office, which spent a year on the chopping block, got an 11th-hour reprieve Monday when landlord Tim Davis and U.S. Postal Service officials signed a month-to-month agreement. The U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday was slated to close the branch at 3810 W. Magnolia Blvd. amid speculation of a lease increase and combine it with Burbank’s main post office on Hollywood Way. But an outpouring of community support and nudging from elected officials prompted a meeting at the postal service’s office of lease and contracts in San Francisco, where the parties brokered the deal.

Mark R. Madler Standing beside a concrete structure on the site of the new Magnolia power plant, Fred Fletcher looked down at the flowing water that is a key element to the plant's electrical production. While the $230-million plant has risen up on the site at Magnolia Boulevard and Lake Street, the structure with the flowing water has always been there, the one constant in a time of modernization. "Whatever we take we use and use until it's all watered out and nothing but salts," said Fletcher, assistant general manager for Burbank Water and Power.

Before he hit the ninth grade, 17-year-old Michael Valencia did not think he would graduate high school. He suffered from severe behavioral and emotional problems for as long as he could remember. In the third grade, he was sent to Magnolia Park School, which specializes in educating and providing mental health services to students from elementary through high school. On Wednesday afternoon, Michael participated in a small graduation ceremony at the school with four other high school students.

Paul Clinton MAGNOLIA PARK -- The final stage of street improvements to Magnolia Park got the approval of the City Council Tuesday in a move one merchant said was a long time coming. "They've promised it for years," said Mary Christensen, the owner of Bell Cottage on Magnolia Boulevard. "It's about time they did it." With a unanimous vote, the council agreed to move forward Tuesday with plans to install a 17-space parking lot at the corner of Magnolia Boulevard and Kenwood Street.

SOUTH SAN FERNANDO DISTRICT -- The Burbank City Council gave unanimous approval Tuesday for the city to move forward as the construction manager and operator of the $215 million, 250-megawatt Magnolia Power Plant. The project is a partnership with six other cities, and helps to keep Burbank from relying on outside sources for power, said Fred Fletcher, Burbank Water and Power Department assistant general manager. Fletcher said this will be "one of the lowest cost sources of power for Burbank."

The installation of new officers and directors of the Magnolia Park Optimist Club for the 2010-11 year was held on Sept. 16 at the Elks club. Former Lt. Gov. Jim Lloyd first retired the outgoing officers — President Terry Scott , and board members, Ernine Larson, Vonda Neundorf, Tony Magnante, Kent Warner, Bill Bertrand and Jesse Fox . Outgoing President, Terry Scott was greatly complimented as he met all his goals, including increased...

MAGNOLIA PARK — U.S. Postal Service officials on Tuesday said they will close the Magnolia Park Post Office on May 21, merging operations with Burbank’s main postal station on Hollywood Way. The 30-day notice to landlord Tim Davis ends the yearlong saga of small-business owners and elected officials trying to keep the branch open. Councilman David Gordon, who lobbied to keep the post office in the well traversed shopping district, said since opening his optometry practice on Hollywood Way 28 years ago, not a week has gone by without several trips to the Magnolia Park Post Office.

Laura Sturza SOUTH SAN FERNANDO DISTRICT -- The Magnolia Power Project got a big boost from the California Energy Commission when the state-run agency released a positive review of the project's application. The proposal, evaluated last week in a report, involves the construction of a $200 million, 250-megawatt power plant at the Burbank generating station complex at 164 W. Magnolia Blvd. It is designed to meet the growing need for electricity in Burbank, as well as other cities under contract.

Ghoulish figures in the front windows of year-round costume shop Halloween Town on Magnolia Boulevard seemed out of season as they were dressed up in their holiday best Friday night. A couple of vampires wore red and white velvety duds in honor of Magnolia Park’s Holiday in the Park event, which was organized by the Magnolia Park Partnership, a group of Magnolia Park businesses that work to promote the business district. Stores along the street from Buena Vista Avenue to Hollywood Way were decorated with colorful lights.